The statistics show the continued success in the treatment of patients at the Sanatorium.  The number of patients admitted have increased from 128 in 1952 to 203 in 1956 but the average length of stay in hospital decreased from 212 days to 107 days during the same period.  When one realises that in the 1940s patients might be in bed for 18 months or 2 years and then fail to recover, the advances made in treatment are obvious.  The general improvement in Northamptonshire is reflected in the boot trade where, only ten years ago the trade had a bad reputation for lung tuberculosis.  Now the disease has been virtually banished from the trade.  People who do contract it can be swiftly found by the Mass Radiography Service with Dr Lord, the Chest Physician at Rushden describes as “the biggest single preventive measure we have ever had”.

For some years the decline in the number of new cases of respiratory tuberculosis diagnosed in a year has not been as apparent as has been the striking fall in the death rate but 1955 shewed the first real evidence of a considerable decline in incidence of the disease.  Only 1 in 25 of patients attending clinics for the first time is now suffering from respiratory tuberculosis, the majority of the remainder are patients with minor indispositions.  The aversion of attending Chest Clinics no longer exists and indeed patients now ask for permission to attend for a check X‑ray when the Mass Radiography Unit has not recently been in the district.

Looking over the whole field of respiratory tuberculosis, it is noted from the report of the County Medical Officer of Health that the number of deaths in 1930 was 150 and has been reduced by 23 in 1956, despite an increase in population.

The reduction in the demand for beds at the Sanatorium has caused the Management Committee to consider what new purpose the available accommodation could be put.